Social media service introduces new tools to help prevent suicides

February 28, 2015 1:28 PM

Facebook will be partnering with mental health organization to help users who are contemplating suicide and self harm

Facebook has introduced a new tool to help improve on its suicide prevention efforts.

The social media service back in 2011 rolled out a medium to flag suicidal content and has now stepped up that effort.

This week, Facebook will begin rolling out a new option inside each post that lets users flag when a friend may be considering commit self-harm.

The concerned party can click on the little arrow at the top right of a status and click ‘Report Post.’ When that person logs in next, Facebook will then offer options to contact the person concerned about them, enlist the help of another friend or put them in contact with a suicide helpline.

Facebook has teamed up with mental health organizations Forefront, Now Matters Now, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Save.org to make it easier for users to show their concern.

The feature will be available initially to those in the US but will be available to users in other country within the next couple of months.